Exhaust box



w. F. WEISS Q June 18, 1935.

EXHAUST BOX Original Filed Oct. 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l S S e U mwfimw NF M f L T ME 7 NW A w w H Y 5 June 18, 1935; W F was; 2,005,282

EXHAUS T BOX Originl Filed 001':- 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ilHlllllllllll llllllll IIIIHHHIHII Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,005,282 EXHAUST Box Wenzel F.,Weiss, San Jose, Calif., assignor to Sprague-Sells Corporation, Hoopeston, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Original application October 12, 1925, Serial No. 61,943. Divided and this application October 31, 1927, Serial No. 229,971 7 6 Claims.

This is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 61,943, filed October 12, 1925, patented January 5, 1932, No. 1,839,433.

My invention relates to devices used in the packing industry for heating the cans or containers after filling, and before capping, so as to exhaust the imprisoned air from the'contents of the container.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an exhaust box characterized by the relatively large number of containers accommodated in relation to the floor space occupied by the exhaust box.

Another object of the invention is the pro- 5 vision of an exhaust box embodying a disk conveyor and in which thestructural. elements are of improved design and arrangement to increase the general efficiency of the machine, to facilitate manufacturing, and to lessen the cost of produc- 20' tion. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of an exhaust box embodying a disk conveyor with improved mounting means for the individual disks so that water and steam are excluded from the bearings.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved means for lubricating the bearings.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the fore- 30 going will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification It is tobe understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description as I may adopt variations'of the preferred form within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my exhaust box, the cover being removed and portions of thestructure broken away to shorten the length of the view.

Figure 2 is a, transverse vertical section, the plane of section being indicated by thelline 22 of Figure 1.

\Figure 3 isga detail partly in vertical section, showing the disk mounting. a

Figure 4 is a detail partly in vertical section, showing part of the driving means for the disk conveyor. 7 I

Figure 5 is a detail in elevation, showing one of the brackets for supporting the steam pipes.

Figure 6 is a detail in vertical section showing the method of mounting the drip pan.

work, including end rails 2 and side rails Broadly considered, my exhaust box comprises a housing in which a plurality of rows of tangentially arranged toothed carrier disks are placed. The disks provide means for conveying the cans through the housing, and inalternate rows the 5 disks'revolve in one direction, while in the other rows the disks revolve in the opposite direction. The disks in any one row are not in mesh with each other,'but' with the two adjacent disksin the adjoining row. A1 drive shaft extending 10 transverselyacrossthe rows belowthe disks is suitably geared to a disk structure preferably in two alternate rows, so as to distribute the strain of the driving force, all of the disks then acting as a single gear train, driven by force applied at two different points in the train. The driving shaft is driven'through suitable clutch mecha nism by a pulley connected to any suitable source of power. The spacing of the disks is such that a straight line drawn between the centers :or rotation of corresponding disks in alternate rows is substantially tangent to the adjacent disks of the other rows. Steampipes fordistributing jets of steam within the housing are arranged coincident with planes cutting the centers of rotation of corresponding disks in alternaterows. These pipes are supported at their outer ends on suitable headers extending longitudinally of the outer'row of disks, and at the opposite end each pipe terminates in a block which is supported on a bracket projecting upwardly from a transverse bar below the disks. There are a number of these bars which also serve to support the bearings in which the disks are journaled. A guide rail is arranged on these pipes and directsthe cans on the disks back and forth transversely across the housing. the end disks, which are of course the disks in the outer rows, carrying the cans thru an arc of approximately 300, receiving them at the end of one trip across the housingand starting them backwardly on the return trip. V V

As will "be seen from an inspection of Figure '1 of the drawings, there are only two disks in the assembly within the housing of which at least one-half is not of use in carrying the cans forward; the other disks being useful forthis purpose over the greater part of their surfaces. This gives a' large capacity relative to the floor area of the machine, a result also materially affected by'the fact that there is a relatively large number of disks, which are individually relative ly small in diameter. l

In detail my exhaust. box comprises a frame- 3.

Legs 4 suitably braced by cross ties 6 support the frame on the floor. Spaced transversely across the frame at suitable intervals are bars I which preferably are of rectangular section, and which are secured in the side frame members 3 by suitable brackets 8. Firmly clamped on these barsby the bolts 9 passing thru the caps H, are the brackets I2, each of which is preferably integrally formed with a vertical bearing box l3. As shown in Figure 1, the brackets alternate on each side of the bar and .in the present embodiment of my invention there are four brackets on each bar, altho I may use six or even eight.

Each bearing box l3 as shown in Figure 3 is formed with a chamber l4 intermediate its ends; and as shown at the right hand end of Figure l, each two chambers are connected by a conduit I6, into the middle portion of which a conduit ll feeds lubricant from an oil cup i8 conveniently'accessible at the side of the machine.

Journaled in the bearing box on each side of the chamber is a shaft 19, on the upper end of which is fixed the carrier disk 2| slightly concaveasshown, and provided on its periphery withthe spur gear teeth 22,v preferably beveled slightly on the upper sides.

The disk is: provided with a hub 23 from which depends anrannular flange 24, enclosing the upper end of the bearing, so that water splashed or condensed on the disk cannot enter the bearing; The bearing is further protected by the packing ring interposed between the upper end..ofv the bearing andthe disk hub within thefiange. A spiral groove 21 on the shaft carriesmlubricant over the upper portion of the shaft and seepage by gravity insures lubrication of the lower portion.

The lower end of-the bearing box is closed by the .plug28 in which, is seatedthe ball 29, and a setfscrew. 3| adjustable in the lower end of the shaft seatson the ball. There is thus provided a thoroly lubricated substantially frictionless adjustablethrustbearingat the lower end of each shaft.

Theradius; .of each carrier disk is but little greater than the, diameter of the largest container to be handled, and the arrangement of parts is such that. in plan view, the disks are arranged in aneven number of .rows, preferably 'four or the disks in any row being out of engagement with each other, but in mesh with two adjacent disks, in ,the adjoining row. Thus all the disks are. geared togetherin a single gear train, and the direction .of rotation ,of' the disks in one row is opposite to that ofthe disks in the adjoining row or-rows, andaline passing thruthe centers of correspondinggdisksinalternate rows is substantially tangent toeach of. two disks in the other rows.

,Since ,allthe disks are connected driving one disk will drive the entire train, but in order to distribute the. stress, I prefer to drive at two points. Two ofv the disks..2l are mounted on shafts 36 whichextend downwardly thru the bearing box 31., A bevel gear 38 is fixed on the lower end of the shaft and a ball thrustbearing 39, protected by thepacking ring 4!, held in place by the split spring ring 42, is interposed between the hub of the disk and the-upper end of the hearing. The bearing box-is otherwise similar to the box i 3, already explained.

Extending across the machine below the gears 38,, which preferablyare arranged on shafts of disks in alternate rows,,is a shaft A3, on which are fixed gears 4G in mesh with the gears 38. The velocity of the shaft is cut down by connection thru the gears 45, with the drive shaft 41, between which and the driving pulley 48, is interposed the clutch 49, controlled by the long rock shaft having the handles 5i at the ends of the machine, so that the operator can quickly reach a control handle from any point-about the machine.

' Extending longitudinally along the outer edge of the outer row of disks on each side, and supported on brackets 52, are header pipes 53 and These pipes are joined by a cross pipe 56, below the disks, connected by the pipe 51, with a suitable source of steam under pressure. Extending from the pipe 53 transversely across the disk are pipes 58, spaced a little above the surface of the disk and coincident with a vertical plane determined by the axes of rotation of corresponding disks in alternate rows. of each pipe 58 is carried in the top of a bracket 59 projecting upwardly between the disks, and clamped at its lower end to a cross bar 1, on which adjustability is secured by the screws 6|, so that the pipe may be properly lined up with the disks.

In a similar manner, pipes 62 are supported at one end in the pipe 54 and extend across the disks, between the pipes 58, to similar supporting brackets. All the branch pipes 58 and 62 are perforated so that live steam is admitted into the exhaust box thru them.

Mounted on the brackets 63 secured to the two header pipes and on the brackets 59, are the guide rails 58 and G? evenly spaced apart and extending continuously thru the machine from the feed disk 58 to the discharge disk 69. These rails extend around the outer half of the peripheries of the disks in the outer rows and lie close to the steam pipes 53 and E2. The distance between the rails is slightly greater than the largest can to be handled and slightly less than the radius of the disks, so that as the containers are carried over the revolving disks they travel in substantially a straight line across the rows, then circularly around the disk in the outer row and back again in a straight line to the other outer row. At the left hand side of Figure l, the arrows show the direction of the can travel.

' It will be observed that as the can moves across the rows of disks it passes from one disk as to which it is on one side of the center, to the next disk, as to which it is on the opposite side of the center, these disks revolving in opposite directions.

Because of the relatively large number of disks counting transvers ly, and their small size relative to the size of the cans carried, there is a minimum of waste, or inactive space, on the disks; and in a packing plant this economy of space occupied is of very great importance, since it gives large capacity for the amount of floor area occupied.

At one end of the exhaust box a feed disk 68 is arranged, on which the entering cans are placed or fed, and at the opposite end, a receiving or discharge disk 59 carries the treated cans forward to the next step in the canning process. In order to confine the steam within the device, side walls l3 and end walls '14 are secured to the frame, extending upwardly far enough to clear the cans in the box. The upper edges of the side and end walls are provided with a channel or edging 16, and a cover Tl, having a down turned flange about its edge, is fitted into the channel edging, so as tovmake a tight closure on the box The outer end L and at the same time one which is easily removable.

In order to prevent leakage of steam from the exhaust box, bottom pans 18 are hung from the side frames on each side of the shafts 43 and 41. The space between the adjacent edges of the pans is filled with the inverted pan 8|, supported on the side frame members 3 as shown in Figures 2 and 6. Since the pans 18 must be removable to give access to the various bearings enclosed by them, means are provided for holding them in a readily detachable manner. Referring to Figure 6, the side edges of the pans are provided with reinforcing angle irons 82 on which are carried the hooked arms 83. Fixed on the side frame members 3 are studs 84 over which the hooked arms may be engaged.

On the opposite side rail 3 are pivotally mount-' ed latches 86, adapted to be engaged under the edge of the reinforcing angle iron 82 on that side. By swinging the latches to clear the edge of each pan 18, they may be lowered sufliciently to permit the opposite sides to be unhooked, so that the pans may be removed to give access to the under portion of the machine.

I claim:

1. In an exhaust box for treating foodstuffs in open end cans, a plurality of horizontally aligned disks for supporting and moving said open end cans through said box, power means for rotating said disks, vertical shafts carrying said disks, sleeve bearings for supporting said shafts, plugs in the lower ends of said sleeve bearings for sealing the same against escape'of lubricant, means for supplying lubricant to said shafts, an adjusting member on the lower ends of said shafts for aligning said shafts vertically, access to said adjusting member being possible only through removal of said plug. 4

2. In an exhaust box for treating food stuffs in open end cans, a plurality of horizontally aligned disks for supporting and moving open end cans through said box, means for rotating said disks in unison, vertical shafts carrying said disks, sleeve bearings supporting said shafts within said box, means for supplying lubricant to said bearings, a recessed hub encircling the upper ends of said sleeves, a packing disposed between the outer edge of the sleeves and the inner surface of said recessed hubs, to prevent evaporation of lubricant within the interior of said housing to contaminate the exposed foodstuffs in the, open end cans being moved therethrough.

3. In an exhaust box for treating foodstuffs in open end cans, a plurality of horizontally aligned disks for supporting and moving open end cans through said box, means for rotating said disks, vertical shafts supporting said disks, sleeve bearings supporting said shafts within said box, means supplying lubricant to said bearings, a recessed hub encircling the upper end of said sleeves, a packing disposed between the outer edge of said sleeves and the inner surface of said overhanging hubs to seal the space therebetween against the escape of lubricant vapors occasioned by the heating medium in the exhaust box, and

means for holding the said packing in place.

4. In an apparatus for exhausting and conveying open end cans of food stuffs comprising aseries of disks on which cans are supported and conveyed from disk to disk, a vertical shaft secured to and carrying each conveyor disk, a counterbored collar adjacent each disk, the counterbore surrounding the shaft to provide a space therebetween, a fixed sleeve forming a bearing support for said shaft, the upper end of the sleeve entering the counterbore to form an overlapping engagement to prevent the escape of lubricant from said bearing, a thrust bearing in the lower end of said sleeve acting to support said shaft and form a seal for the lower end of said sleeve, and an adjustable means on the lower end of said shaft and contacting with said thrust bearing, means for rotating all of said series of can supporting disks in unison and means to supply lubricant-to said bearings.

5. In an apparatus for exhausting and conveying exposed food stuffs comprising a series of aligned disks on which cans are supported and conveyed from disk to disk, a vertical shaft secured to and carrying each conveyor disk, a counterbored hub integral with each disk, the counterbore surrounding the shaft to provide a space therebetween, a fixed sleeve forming a bearing support for each shaft, the upper end of the sleeve entering the counterbore to form an overlapping engagement, with a washer between the end of the sleeve and the bottom of the counterbore to prevent the escape of lubricant from said bearings, a thrust bearing in lower end of said sleeve acting to support the said shafts and form a seal for the lower ends of said sleeves, and an adjustable means on the lower end of said shaft and contacting with said thrust bearing, means for rotating all of said series of can supporting disks in unison and means to supply lubricant to said bearings.

6; In a heated exhaust'box for treating foo stuffs exposed in open end cans comprising a substantially closed box through which open end cans are passed, a plurality of horizontally aligned disks for supporting and moving open end cans through said box, means for rotating said disks, vertical shafts carrying said disks, sleeve bearings within said box'for' said vertical shafts, means for supplying lubricant to said bearings, and means for sealing said bearings against evaporation of lubricantwithin the interior of said box to preventcontamination of the exposed food stuffs being moved therethrough.

WENZEL F. WEISS; 

